Mechanism for supplying steam and heated air to spotting machines



' Dec- 7, 194 w. c. GLOVER, JR

' 1 v MECHANISM FOR SUPPLYING STEAM AND HEATED AIR TO SPOTTING MACHINES Filed Feb. 18, 1946 cm \unuunuu F 25 .I

,4 TOKNEK Fa tented bee. 7, 1948 ENT OFFICE MECHANISM FOR sUrPLYiNG s'rEAM AND HEATED AIR T SPOTTINQ MACHINES j William C. Glover, Jr., Kansas City,"Mo., assignor to Bill Glover Incorporated, a corporationof Missouri Application February 18, 194.8; S erialNo. 648,268

. 1 1 i This. invention relates to improvements in a mechanism for supplying steam and heated air to a dry cleaners spotting machine and refersimore particularly to a device which combines a steam receptacle and air heater with connections for supplying steam and heated air optionally to the nozzle of aspotting board. i 1 i i i Heretofore it has. been common practice to It is desirable to furnish steamto the} nozzle with the desired moisture content and optionally provide a supply of heated; air through thecnozzle for drying the fabric after the spotting operation has i been completed or alternately with. steam during spotting. a

i An object, therefore, of the invention is to pro:

vide a spotting board equipped with a nozzle through whicheitherl airor steam may be supplied, witha novel control device for the air and steam valves whereby one valve is closed when the other is opened.

Another object is to provide an air heater arranged in novel heat exchange relatiomwith the steam supply so air and steam may be optionally furnished to the nozzle of thespotting board.

A further object is to provide an air heat en-g changer by which the heat of the steam used in the spotting machine may .beefilciently trans mitted to .the air used optionally with the steam during the spotting operation. H w

Other and further objects willappear fromthe following description.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts in the various views, i Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a spotting machine embodying the invention with parts broken away, and

Fig. 2 is a detail of the upper portion of the steam receptacle showing the valve control mechanism.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral Ill designates a pedestal having a base portion Illa. On top of 3 Claims. (01.68 0

the pedestal is mounteda shallow pan ll cov ered bya perforated plate or foraminous screen I2. At one end of the pan is a tray Band at thelow end of the pan is a drain opening l4 below which is hung a bucket l5 upon a hanger l6. Beneath the pan and attached to the pedestal is anarrow loop of pipe I1 forming the frame for a canvas garment catcher which is laced to thepipe. Within the pedestal and bolted thereto is a steam receptacle l8, equipped with .a i steam inlet pipe l9 and a steam outlet pipe 20. integrally formed on the side of the steam receptacle or aflixed theretoin heat exchange relation as by welding is a hollow casing orhousing 21. This housirig hasa lower air inlet 22 and an upper outlet pipe 23. Interposedin the outlet pipe is a valve 24. Screwed into the top of the receptacle I8 is a steam valve25 whose construction forms the subject of copending applicationSerial No. 582,111, filed March 10, 1945. Thisvalve serves a dual purpose of supplying dry steam or relatively wet steam to the nozzle of the spotting hoard; "Theupperportion of the valve designated in the drawings by the numeral 25a has adisch arge connection '26 communicating through anipple in the pedestal with the hose '21 tbwhichndzzle 28 is attached. Adjacent the nozzle is a handle 29." Portion 25a of the valve isalso connected by pipe'30 to air valve 24.

"The control for the steam and air valves 24 and 25 comprises apedal operated vertical lever 3l pivoted on shaft 32 in"'the base Illa ofthe pedestal. A horizontal pedal-33, mounted on the pivot 32, tilts in two directions. The upper end of lever 3| isconnectedby link 34 to arocker theoppositeendof the rocker arm is connected a vertical rod 131 whose upper extremity is threaded and screwed into the throat of yoke38. 'I'hebifurcatedends of the yokeiiembrace and are attached to an arm 39 pivoted at 40 upon bracket 4|. At the opposite end of the arm 39 is supported a weight 42. A flattened portion of the underside of arm 39 contacts the top of the valve rod which opens the steam valve against the forces of a compression spring and weight 42 when pivoted arm 39 is rocked. The details of this steam valve, as previously noted, are disclosed in and form the subject of my copending application. Afllxed to valve 24 is a bracket 43 to which is pivoted an actuating arm 44. The free end of this arm has an eye or ring through which rod 31 passes. Below the end of the arm and adiustabl'y aflixed to rod 31 by a set screw is a collar 45. The upper surface of arm 44 adjacent bracket 43 contacts the lower end of a the machine where the pedal is located, lila'ces the fabric to be cleaned on the perforated surface H! of the pan I I. He removes the nozzle '28 from its slot in the side of the panand -if-steam is'to be applied to the fabric, pedal 33 is pressed to the left of its pivot. This moves lever .31 and link 34 to the left, depressing rod 31 through the action of rocker arm 35. As rod 31 is pulled downwardly, horizontal arm 31 through yoke connection 38 is tilted and thesteam valveis opened allowing steam to enter discharge .line 26. Through this pipe thesteam is supplied through hose -21 to the nozzle. .If it is desired to inject heated air into the :fabric during the spotting operation, pedal. :is pressed to the right: of its pivotzvshiiting lever-.31 end/link 34 to the right Whic-hrocks pivotedarmii toraise rod 31. Collar AS-then contacts the and of the actuating arm 442m maiselthe actuating Pin of the air valve 24, permitting heated air supplied through pipe 23 to the valve .to bedischargedthrough pipes 30, 26 and hose 2-1 to the ,nozzle.

Thus it will beseen that optionally with the operator steam of the desired moisture content or heated air may be. furnished to-the spotting operation by thesimple tilting of ,pedal 33 to one side or the other. I From the foreaoingrit will beseen that this invention is one well adaptedpto attain all of the ends. and obiects hereinabove set. .rorth, together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure, 7

. it Willi-be understood that certain featuresand subcombinations :are-of utility and maybe. employed without reference to other ileatures (and s-ubcombirrations. This .is contemplated by- .and is. within the .scopeosf the claims,

As possible embodiments may be made of theinvention,Withoutdeparting from the scope thereoi, it is to be understood that all matter herein, set. .forth or shown in, the drawings ;-is to be interpreted as illustrativeandenot in a limiting sense.v r y Having thus described my invention, .1 claim; :1. In a spottin board, a spottingnozzle,,. a, receptacle havin a steam inlet and .a. steam outlet, a discharge. line connectingthe receptacle to the. nozz'le,.a valve in thedischarge line for controlling manner a: steam .therethrough to theflnozzle, an

air supply line connected to said discharge line, a valve in the air line for controlling the flow of air through the air line to the discharge line and hence to the nozzle, the air supply line including an elongated tube supported by the receptacle on the outside thereof with the wall of the tube in engagement with the wall tor the receptacle to facilitate the transfer of heat therebetween, an actuating device common to said valves and movable in either direction from a neutral position, and linkage from the device to the valves adapted to -open only one valve when the device is moved in one direction from neutral and to open only the other valve when the device is moved in the other direction from neutral.

2. In a spotting board, a spotting nozzle, a receptacie having a steam inlet and a steam outlet, a discharge line connecting the receptacle to thenozzle, a valve in the discharge line for controlling the flow of steam therethrough to the nozzle, an air supply line connected to said disoharge line, a'valve inztheair line for controlling the flow of air through the airline to the dis.- charge line and hence to the nozzle, the air supply tine including-(an elongated tube supported :by the receptacle on the outside thereof with the Wall of the tube in engagement with the wall of the receptacle, and heatconducting elements withinsaidttube to facilitate the transfer of heat from the walls thereof to the :air passing through the tube.

3. 'In a. :spottingboard, at spotting .nozzle, a receptacle having a. steam inletiand a steam. outlet, a discharge line connecting the receptacle to the nozzle, asvalve in the discharge line for controlling the flow roi steam itherethrough to the nozzle, an .air .supply line. connected to said discharge line, :a valve-in the air 1'01 controlling. the flow of air through the air line to the discharge line and hence toltheinozzle, the air simply ineluding-arr elongated tuhensupported by the receptacleion the outside thereof the wall 01 the tube in engagement with the of the 128- cep'tacle, anel :otmeta-llic woo'l'within said :tube to racilitate the transfier, of heat from the walls thereoflto the air-passing through the tube.

CrGLQVER, JR.

Number" "Name 1,443,535 De Atl'ey Mar. 6,1923 2,279,885 Goodwin Apr. 14, 194-2 2395,71 8 Dahiber Sept. 15, 1942: 2,340,832 Damme'etat Feb, 1, 1-94; 2,36%331 Cl'ssll Oct. 17, I944 

